www.percussionplay.co.uk Percussion Play Limited. t. +44 (0)1730 235180 f. +44 (0)1730 235181 e. info@percussionplay.co.uk Registered Office: Harwood House, 43 Harwood Road, London, SW6 4QP. Registered in England No. 07639169
Thank you for choosing Percussion Play Outdoor Musical Instruments to enhance your outdoor area. Percussion Play products are not only built to last, they're also extremely easy to take care of. A little routine care and maintenance will guarantee the highest performance from them, keep them playing in tip-top condition and ensure they continue to create a special musical experience. The durability of Percussion Play products can only be guaranteed if you carry out regular inspections and maintenance. This is the best way to preserve your Percussion Play product. IPE Notes All our timber notes are made from Ipe, a south-central American hardwood. The US Department of Agriculture and Forestry rates Ipe as "very resistant to attack by decay, fungi and termites and with a Class A fire rating (the same rating given to concrete & steel) makes Ipe a very suitable material for outdoor musical instruments. Ipe is very dense and as such is extremely resistant to preservation treatments. Left to nature, the UV sunrays and traditional weathering, Ipe s appearance will change to a light silver/grey colour. Finishes applied on a bi-annual basis can be used to hold Ipe's original colour. Ipe can be treated with any hardwood decking oil available from DIY stores and garden centres. If it has been allowed to grey, Ipe can be lightly power washed back to its original appearance prior to treatment. Aluminium Notes The aluminium notes of Percussion Play products have an extremely high resistance to corrosion due to an anodic coating that cannot be peeled off or flake away. It is highly durable and resistant to most atmospheric attacks. Your aluminium notes or chimes can be kept clean with soapy water or a mild detergent solution followed by rinsing with clean cold water. After drying, a good household wax spray polish may be used. Grease and dirt deposits may be removed by using solvents such as white spirit in conjunction with a soft cloth or soft bristle brush. On no account should harsh abrasives be used for cleaning. As the notes are permanently exposed to some atmospheric weathering, they should be regularly cleaned and we recommend not less than four times a year. (GRP) Fibreglass Notes GRP stands for 'Glass fibre Reinforced Plastics', also referred to as 'Fibreglass'. Once cured, GRP will remain in its original condition (with exception of some colour deterioration) with only chemical or mechanical damage resulting in any change of this condition. A popular choice where exposure to harsh environments is likely it s UV resistant has excellent resistance to extreme temperatures, salt air, and a variety of chemicals. Because GRP is chemically inert and corrosion-resistant coupled with being low maintenance it serves as an excellent component in Outdoor Musical Instruments. To keep the notes of your instrument looking their best simply wipe clean with a mild detergent and rinse with clean cold water. 2
Plastic Products Percussion Play Outdoor Musical Instruments Made with UV stable plastic these products are extremely low maintenance. To keep them looking their best, simply wipe clean with a mild detergent and rinse with clean cold water. If the product has been painted then touch up paints are available from Percussion Play Ltd (or your chosen distributor) should you wish to cover any blemishes which may be caused over the years, either by misuse or accidental damage. Stainless Steel Products Many Percussion Play products are made of Stainless Steel. Stainless steel is anti-allergenic and has enhanced corrosion resistance making it suitable for aggressive atmospheric environments. All our products made from stainless steel are extremely low maintenance but must be kept clean for a long material life. To keep your product looking its best, simply wipe clean with a mild detergent and rinse with clean cold water. All cleaning solutions including acid based (except hydrochloric acid) are suitable, as long as thoroughly rinsed with clean water afterwards. Stainless steel polish can be used should you wish to cover any blemishes which may be caused over the years, either by misuse or accidental damage. Stainless steel is very low maintenance but in external areas it is recommended to be checked for blemishes or surface scratches see maintenance schedule. Timber Products All timber frames are made from pressure treated European redwood and are guaranteed against rot and fungal decay for 10 years. As timber is a natural product it will continue to adapt to atmospheric conditions i.e. in warm dry weather the timber shrinks and in wet weather the reverse applies. This movement will cause some cracking and splitting in the timber, however these are always allowed for when calculating the required strength of each component within the structure. You do not need to renew the wood protection provided by the treatment process. The effects of weather and direct sunlight become visible by way of an outside deterioration of the cell structure, constituents such as tannic acids are extracted and the result is a greying of the material. However, this affects the outside only and represents no reduction of quality, stability or wood protection. If your timber frame has become dirty or attracted some surface algae then we recommend cleaning it with a soap-based biodegradable outdoor cleaner available at DIY stores or Garden Centres. Simply mix the solution to the recommended dilution, saturate the affected areas using a watering can fitted with a rose or compression sprayer and leave. The product is best applied during a dry spell. The degree of timber maintenance required depends on the location, amount of sun received and general wear and tear. 3
Maintenance for Instruments with timber stands/posts installed below ground level The supporting posts are essential to the stability and safety of the equipment and therefore require your particular attention. You must regularly free the posts of moss or other objects that may allow humidity to penetrate the wood. The posts must be checked for their stability both during the Monthly & Annual Inspections. The post must be replaced immediately if it shows excessive weathering or the first signs of a fungal attack, damage by animals or strimmers, or in case of any other signs indicating a possible instability. Below is a test procedure that allows you to inspect the timber installed: Remove surfacing surrounding the post to check the state of the post at foundation level. Use a blunt tool such as a hammer and knock on the wood. The sound must be uniform throughout the entire post (unless the wooden part has holes or wet parts) Try to penetrate the surface of the wood with a pointed object such as a screwdriver. The surface should show resistance. If the timber component does not pass all of the above tests, it must be replaced. Maintenance for Instruments with metal stands/posts installed below ground level Metal posts for Percussion Play instruments are made from either aluminium or stainless steel. These should to be checked every month to see whether particular conditions (e.g. salt water, electrolytic corrosion) have caused pitting or a weakening of the installed post at ground level. Below is a test procedure that allows you to inspect the posts installed: Remove surfacing surrounding the post at foundation level to check for anomalies or damage from vandalism. If posts weaken or are subject to vandalism, the instable post has to be repaired by an expert, or be replaced. Percussion Play Ltd can replace items under warranty terms, if outside of the terms certain charges will apply. Alterations to Percussion Play Equipment Alterations to the instruments, frames or structures that could affect the essential safety or sound of the equipment should only be carried out after consultation with Percussion Play Limited; any other alterations may affect the warranty of your product. 4
Repairs & Replacement Parts Percussion Play Instruments are designed for permanent outdoor installation and use extremely hardwearing materials especially designed to give maximum protection. Spare parts and additional beaters/paddles are available from Percussion Play Ltd or your chosen distributor. All repair and warranty questions should be directed to the distributor from whom the instrument was purchased. If needed, they will contact Percussion Play about the repair. However, should you experience any difficulties then please contact us directly and we will be pleased to assist you in any way that we can. Warranty Percussion Play warranty our materials and workmanship against defects from the day of consignment, subject to installation being carried out by competent persons in accordance with the manufacturer s installation instructions. We reserve the right to refuse any claim if you cannot provide evidence of the execution of regular inspection and maintenance works. Products and/or components may be repaired or exchanged on an Ex Works basis and may be subject to the defective parts being returned to Percussion Play or its authorised Agent. This guarantee does not affect your statutory rights. Limited Twenty Five (25) Year Warranty - Percussion Play offers an unrivalled Limited 25 Year Warranty on metalwork used in the supporting structure of stands and frames against structural failure caused by deterioration due to exposure to weather or by defective materials or defective workmanship. Limited Ten (10) Year Warranty on timber, composite, aluminium and stainless steel components (includes notes and fixings) against structural failure caused by deterioration due to exposure to weather or by defective materials or defective workmanship. Limited Two (2) Year Warranty on mallets and components used in the initiation of percussive sound on our instruments and associated fastening hardware, on fastening hardware associated with notes. These Limited Warranties do not include fading of colours, damage due to excessive wear and tear, vandalism, or negligence. 5
EN1176 Requirements (Applies to Children s Playground Equipment) All children s playground equipment is subject to regular inspections and maintenance works. The maintenance of your Percussion Play Ltd products according to these instructions is prerequisite to the Percussion Play Ltd warranty and adheres to the definitions given in EN1176. Full copies of the European Playground Standards can be purchased from the British Standards Institute website. Excerpt from EN 1176-7: Section 7 - Inspection schedule 7.1. To avoid accidents, the operator has to make sure that an adequate inspection schedule is developed and adhered to for each playground. In such a schedule, all local conditions and manufacturer's indications that may have an influence on the necessary maintenance frequency, have to be taken into consideration. The inspection schedule should list all parts, which have to be checked during the different inspections, and the inspection procedures. 7.2. If severe and safety-endangering defects are discovered during an inspection, they should be eliminated immediately. If they cannot be repaired or replaced at once, the respective equipment has to be excluded from use, e.g. by dismantling or closing it down. If an equipment component has to be removed, e.g. for maintenance works, all anchoring or foundations that remain in the ground have to be removed also or be made inaccessible by means of covers. The construction site should then be secured. As stated in the standards, we recommend a weekly Routine Visual Inspection of your playground. In cases of heavily used or high-risk (e.g. vandalism) playgrounds or if the age of the equipment requires more frequent checks, you may want to increase the frequency of these inspections to daily. An Operational Inspection should be carried out every month and after 12 months at the latest you are required to carry out an Annual Inspection (for best effect this should be completed after the winter months). Records should be kept alongside these instructions of all actions taken as part of safety management. On the last pages of these maintenance instructions you are offered a Maintenance Record Sheet for the entry of your maintenance report results. Daily/Weekly Visual Routine Inspection The routine maintenance of your Percussion Play Ltd instruments consists of preventative measures to maintain their level of safety and performance. On a Daily/Weekly Visual Routine Inspection you should be checking for visible damage and loose parts; Are there any exposed foundations? Can you see sharp edges, broken, frayed or missing parts? Are components overly worn and torn 6
We strongly recommend the daily inspection of heavily used or high-vandal-risk playgrounds or those that have already been in service for a certain period of time. All damages and defects have to be eliminated immediately in order to guarantee the safety and functional reliability of your Percussion Play Ltd products. Record your findings and any action taken in the Maintenance Record Sheet on the last page of this document. Monthly Operational Inspection As for the "Weekly Visual Routine Inspection", the following checks have to be carried out during the Monthly Operational Inspection: Are there any exposed foundations? Can you see sharp edges, broken or missing parts? Are components overly worn and torn? The Monthly Operational Inspection requires the following supplementary checks: Are all wooden components acceptable? (E.g. no splinters or other damages) Are all metal parts well connected and not worn down? Are all screwed connections and bolted joints tight? If not, please tighten them. Are all plastic and/or rubber components satisfactory? All damages and defects have to be eliminated immediately in order to guarantee the safety and functional reliability of your Percussion Play Ltd products. Record your findings and any action taken in the Maintenance Record Sheet on the last page of this document Annual Inspection You should carry out the Annual Inspection after the winter or at least after 12 months. In addition to those of the Daily Visual Routine Inspection and the Monthly Operational Inspection, the following checks are required: Are all foundations stable and the equipment well anchored? Replace joints that show severe corrosions or heavy wear and tear. Wooden components: All wooden components exposed to weather conditions have to be checked. All damages and defects have to be eliminated immediately in order to guarantee the safety and functional reliability of your Percussion Play Ltd products. Record your findings and action taken in the Maintenance Record Sheet on the last page of this document. We recommend you copy the Maintenance Record Sheet or create your own for ongoing Maintenance reporting. 7
Date of Inspection Inspection (Daily/ Weekly/ Monthly /Annual) Name of Inspector Name of Instrument Inspected Details of Defect Found Action Taken Date Defect Resolved 8